On January 14th, 2026, the Ripon Boys Varsity Soccer Team came out with a exciting home win against Orestimba. The game started off in Ripon’s favor as passes found their way through the defense, breaching through the backline finding open forwards, leading to chances at a goal.
After about 10 minutes, a ball had landed into the feet of the striker, Brian Machado in which he fired a shot on goal. The shot was deflected by the keeper, but went straight to the feet of Chris Armanious, the left winger, who put in the rebound making it 1-0. The team roared in excitement as it sparked a new found hope for the team.
Not even 10 minutes later after the goal, Ripon was on the attack once again. Machado recieved a pass from Armanious right by the penalty mark and fired in a goal. The team cheered in triumph, only for it to be called offside 30 seconds later, leading to respectably angry players and coaches. Ripon’s offense seemed to be halted going towards the end of the first half, as it was now Orestimba’s turn to attack. A cross came into Ripon’s box and a half volley was launched at Ripon’s goal from not too far out. Luckily, goalkeeper Armin Grewal got a hand on it preventing the equalizer.
As the second half rolled in, Ripon’s offense found passing lanes through the defense as they had in the first half, as they made their way down the field, a bad challenge from Orestimba had found Ripon with a free kick, a notably far distance from the goal.
Brian Machado stepped up to take it and fired an absolute laser into the top right of the goal, nicking right off the top of the right post and going out of bounds.If he had made that it could have truly been the goal of the season.
Ripon’s onslaught didn’t stop there however, as not much later Machado found himself dribbling inside Orestimba’s 18 yard box.This time however, the Orestimba player fouled him heavily, resulting in the referee pointing to the spot, penalty kick for Ripon.
Machado stepped up calm and collected, delivering a shot in the bottom left, the Orestimba goalkeeper nowhere near, 2-0 Ripon. The rest of the 2nd half was pure defense from Ripon as Orestimba could not find away through their wall. Defenders Cade Vallee and Armaan Goraya were giving Orestimba’s forwards a very tough time. When the final whistle blew it was Ripon 2, Orestimba 0. The team celebrated as it was a morale-boosting win and the first of their TVL season, making their overall record 3-12-3.
Goalscorer Chris Armanious elaborated after the win,” This game is a huge turnaround for our team’s mindset and energy, we can’t let our past losses define us all together as a team, as a family”.
When asked about the upcoming game against R.C. he stated, “Even though we lost last time, this time we’ll come back stronger and better overall, they didn’t face the team we have now”. We hope the team can keep the adrenaline high as they play R.C. on January 16th.
